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my civic duty? can i ignore it?

topic posted Mon, September 26, 2005 - 9:51 PM by 
i just started a new job and am in my 3rd week of my probationary 90 days which don't have any benefits.

i got a jury duty notice. if i don't work, i won't get paid.

i think last time, i misplaced the notice and the date came & went without reprocussion. i hear that they get the pool of people from dmv and voting registration and i seem to get one of these every year like clockwork.

dare i blow it off again?
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  • Rice
    Rice
    offline 12

    Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

    Mon, October 3, 2005 - 4:23 PM
    good excuse to go act real crazy. Throw in a few racial slurs . . give em a show
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    • Dave...
      Dave Masucci
      offline 167

      Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

      Mon, December 4, 2006 - 10:09 PM



      Saul is correct on the comment re: certified mail

      I received forms about 3 or 4 times... ignore them & nothing has ever happened.

      BEWARE: If any of y'all turn me in, I will find you & tickle you to death!!!


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      • Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

        Tue, December 5, 2006 - 12:28 AM
        I always go, never make it to the questioning part, but am always in the last couple of people they DON'T call so it wastes plenty of my time. Hmph!
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        • Sarah
          Sarah
          offline 16

          Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

          Tue, December 5, 2006 - 6:33 AM
          My husband and I live in SF, and they take "civic duty" very seriously. He was called by means of a letter to a former address when he wasn't even a legal resident of the US (previously here on a work visa and was, at the time of the notice, back in the US because his visa had expired). Anyhow, he actually had a "hold" put on the renewal of his driver's license for failure to appear when called for jury duty. So, there are problems that you can encounter for failure.

          I have been called in SF, and went and had to spend near 2 days going through the selection process. Oddly enough, I was called to be questioned and thought that the fact that I am lawyer would get me out right away. It didn't. I was almost chosen for the last alternate position until they/I realized something in my past that might have prevented me from being unbiased.

          Anyhow, its not a horrible situation to go and be a juror, especially if the trial is somewhat interesting. I think about it this way - if I were a criminal defendant, or in need of a jury for a civil trial, I would want my jury to be comprised of intelligent people - a true cross-section of my community. If everyone in my community is attempting to get out of jury duty - what am I left with? Its not fair to the person who really needs to rely upon the system to have everyone faking an inability to serve.
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  • Dave...
    Dave Masucci
    offline 167

    Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

    Tue, December 5, 2006 - 1:51 PM
    >> If I were a criminal defendant, or in need of a jury for a civil trial, I would want my jury to be comprised of intelligent people...
    >> It's not fair to the person who really needs to rely upon the system to have everyone faking an inability to serve


    Sorry to inform you of this, but "true" JUSTICE is rarely served in this country.

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    • Sarah
      Sarah
      offline 16

      Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

      Tue, December 5, 2006 - 1:58 PM
      But is that any reason for not serving on a jury? That like throwing in the towel. I can't believe that people would stand behind that as a crutch for not doing what is needed. Call me an optimist, but I would like to believe that some people actually believe that they make a difference by serving on juries, voting, etc.

      Come on - those are just crutches. You know better than that.
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      • Dave...
        Dave Masucci
        offline 167

        Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

        Tue, December 5, 2006 - 2:50 PM



        No, I live in NYC!!!



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        • Sarah
          Sarah
          offline 16

          Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

          Tue, December 5, 2006 - 2:57 PM
          Ah, well if that's your explanation, then far be it from me to try and dissuade you. I think that people really need to be more civic minded to protect ourselves against the loss of civil rights/liberties and other government intrustions. I am, by no stretch of the imagination, a fanatic, but I do feel that simple things can sometimes result in the most profound changes - whether it be generally or for an individual. Anyhow, this 2 cents of mine has turned into 6 cents, and I am out! Cheers!
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          • Bill...
            Billy Shears
            offline 107

            Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

            Tue, December 5, 2006 - 3:05 PM
            This is boosted from The New Yorker...

            A few years ago, (Sarah) Silverman was invited to tell some jokes on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” In one of them, she describes trying to get out of jury duty by writing something disqualifyingly biased on the form. A friend suggests she write “I hate Chinks,” and, worried that people will think she’s racist, she writes, “I love Chinks.”
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  • Unsu...
     

    Re: my civic duty? can i ignore it?

    Mon, July 16, 2007 - 10:00 PM
    You fucked up big time.

    You should have reported for duty and begged to be picked.

    In Texas, they pay you five ($5.00) U.S. Dollars per day. That is almost enough to by tiny bit of crack and get high the next day on jury duty.

    Plus you get free parking.

    In some jurisdictions, they throw in a box lunch. Now you are in tall cotten. Five dollar, free lunch and free parking.

    Become a professional juror.
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